In December I received an email from Ramit Sethi talking about honest feedback. Basically his observation is people say they want the truth but when the time comes most of us don’t really want to hear it (at least in relationships.)

I am always looking to increase my knowledge on various topics or ways to improve myself. Ramit provided a word-for-word script to do just that. It went like this:

Hi NAME,

I’m trying to come up with a really good New Year’s resolution for 2015 and I want your help. I know this might sound weird, but I would love your feedback on (1) one thing you think I do really well, and (2) one thing I could improve about _____.

Thanks!

I filled in the blank with “my social skills.”

The suggestion was to send it to three people. I sent it to seven. To date, I’ve received replies from five of the seven. The criteria for my selection was to choose people who I see out socially on a semi-regular basis and who seem to have some similar values. Wanting to become the best person they can be and improve themselves and their community were major considerations.

I am more of a don’t wait until the calendar changes, do it now, kind of guy. So while I don’t really “do” resolutions, the timing was a great excuse to get some insight about myself.

In the responses I've gotten there were definitely themes, both with what I do well and what needs improvement. The improvement item that was mentioned most often was to narrow my focus and execute on it. For me, this is applicable for more than just social situations.

Socially, it looks like being completely mindful in conversations, fully absorbing the moment. In business, it is taking an idea or product or goal, and executing on it fully or maybe it's assembling the right team to do that. Personally, it is more like picking a hobby or interest and getting really good at it. It's tough to learn guitar, German, Arabic, how to take better photos, remodel my home, read 52 books in a year, cultivate a consistent meditation practice all while planning my next European adventure. Focus.

This isn't a new insight to me but it is a great reinforcer. Like with many lessons in life, we need to keep hearing something in different ways until it actually sinks in. Focus.

I'd like to thank all of the people who played along. If you'd like to participate, feel free to email your answers to me or leave them in the comments.

For the longest time I've has a slight fascination with the round houses Deltec produces. Occasionally I swing into log cabin thoughts, then maybe a extra-large tiny house. After seeing this Mashable post, I may be dreaming a little again. Location, location, location.

Nearly a half million people have been without clean running water for over two days where I live. I don’t live in a third world county or in a war zone. I live in Toledo, Ohio, in the midwest of the United States.

We have been told the water supply is unsafe to consume, heat up, wash with, or even put on living plants. There is a toxin in the water supply called microcystin. It comes from the overgrown algae bloom in Lake Erie. This is where the city get its water.

There are several things we have not been told.-What is the most recent tested level of microcystin?-What is the accepted safe level?-How often is the water tested for it?-How long does it take to process the test?-Is the City of Toledo still processing these tests?-What are any of the results?-Is it getting better, worse or staying the same?-What are the conditions needed to have safe water again?

Why isn’t the government of the people, by the people, for the people sharing any of this information with the people? I don’t even care about fault right now. I’d like to know approximately when I can put my clothes in the washing machine or run my dishwasher or take a hot shower.

One true positive by-the-people action to be seen are the many who are pulling together to help each other out in this situation while the powers that be don’t release any information.

I was reminded today of the joke about the preacher who confronted G-d about not saving his life which led me to this interesting piece. Good stuff in there from Troy DuFrene.

As a guy fumbling for change, thought, recognizing the poverty of knowledge gives me a little hope. I'm getting comfortable with the fact that, try as I might, I'm not going to be able to read everything, absorb everything, figure everything (or anything) out. Instead, I'm going to try slowing down enough to be able to hear that voice calling to me through the megaphone from above.

G-d shakes his head and says, "What did you want from me? I sent you two boats and a helicopter..."

Often, during combat, he receives blows that he was not expecting.And he realises that, during the war, his enemy is bound to win some of the battles.

When this happens, he weeps bitter tears and rests in order to recover his energies a little.But he immediately resumes his battle for his dreams.

The longer he remains away, the more likely he is to feel weak, fearful and intimidated.When a horseman falls off his horse, if he does not remount immediately, he will never have the courage to do so again.

Forgot my wallet at home today so for lunch I had to resort to a place that takes Square Wallet. In downtown Toledo that leaves two options, a sandwich shop and a coffee place.

It turns out Jominic's, the sandwich joint, is out of business. Option two was Bleak House. I ordered a medium pour over coffee. As it was being made, a stranger who was on his way out paid for my order. Guess I didn't need Square after all today.

I think I'm still a little shocked as I'm sitting in this coffee house while sipping a brilliant cup of java.